A BLOG ON TEA, COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & CAKES AND ALL THINGS HOME-MADE INCLUDING VINTAGE AND MODERN…

tips

1. If you add a beaten egg slowly to your batter mix it prevents the batter from becoming too stiff.

2. Always use eggs at room temperature when baking with them.

3. Eggs will whip more easily if left for 10 minutes in cold water before breaking.

4. Place the egg in a bowl of water, if it sinks and lies on its side, it’s fresh. If it sinks and stands large-end up, it’s on the turn so use within a couple of days. If it floats, bin it, as it’s gone off.

5. If you weigh four whole eggs in their shells, then whatever the weight is, that’s how much each of flour, sugar and butter you should add. This will ensure an delicious cake every time.

6. If you’re making soft meringue for a pie topping, say, for our Classic Lemon Meringue Pie, add a teaspoon of cornflour to your sugar. It’ll aid in absorbing any extra water the sugar will attract.

7. To make sure the essence you use adds flavour to the whole cake, mix it into the egg before adding the egg to the mixture.

8. Eggs will stay fresher longer if you store them pointed end down.

9. If you forgot to get your eggs out for baking then just pop them into a bowl and cover with hot water. Take them out after a couple of minutes and use for baking as normal.

10. To separate eggs for baking, tap the shell against the side of a mixing bowl to crack, then break open, letting the white run out into the bowl and holding the yolk in one half of shell. Tip the yolk backwards and forwards from shell to shell to let all the white run into the bowl.

11. When you’re making sponge cakes, beat the eggs together in a jug and add to the butter and sugar mixture gradually, whisking well between additions. If the mixture looks like it’s going to curdle, add a spoonful of the weighed flour and beat again until smooth.

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According to an article on Step to Health, six of the best teas to drink to help you sleep well are –

1. Chamomile and Tila – Tila is known for being a natural sedative which is highly recommended for relaxation and for relieving tension.I think we all know about how relaxing and calming Chamomile is.

2. Lemon Balm – has an acidic aroma. Using its flowers and leaves to make teas helps one get a deep sleep.

3. Mint Tea – it contains anti-inflammatories and sedatives, and is a great way to get a better night’s sleep.

4. Passion Flower and Valerian – Passion flowers contain natural anxiolytics and acts as a natural tranquilizer and Valerian is one of the best known natural sedatives. Although its taste is not very pleasant, it induces sleep and reduces nervousness.

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For the flakiest upper pie crust, brush the top lightly with cold water before baking.

To avoid your pie crust from becoming too soggy, sprinkle it with equal parts of sugar and flour before adding filling.

If you haven’t got a pastry cutter for your pies then improvise with an aerosol lid instead.

To stop pastry sticking to your rolling pin, put the pin in the freezer or fridge so that it’s cold before you use it.

Buy a Silicon Pastry Brush – non stick and heat resistant to 315C so you can baste with hot oils.

A common mistake when rolling out pastry is to change the direction of the pin rather than the pastry which then encourages the pastry to stick. To prevent this, give the pastry a quarter turn every few seconds while rolling with the pin in the same position and lightly dust the surface frequently with flour.

A back pain baking tip – to avoid hurting your back, don’t turn your body at an angle when rolling pastry. Turn the pastry around instead.

Always let pie pastry dry throughout before adding filling as it will prevent it from seeping while cooking.

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In the 400-600s demand for tea being used as a medicinal drink rose in China.

Tea in Japan during this period was rare and expensive, and enjoyed most by high priests and the aristocracy.

During 648-749 a Japanese monk Gyoki planted the first tea bushes in 49 Buddhist temple gardens.

Buddhism and tea devotion spread and the Japanese Buddhist Saint and Priest Saicho and monk Kubo Daishi, brought tea seeds and cultivation and manufacturing tips back from China and planted them in the gardens in Japanese temples.

Tea is first mentioned in the ancient texts as an offering. In the Buddhist scriptures it is often spoken as an offering made to the Buddha.

Originally posted on IMAGES OF A HYGGE LIFESTYLE...: We are all trying to do our bit to go greener and candles are very much a part of a HYGGE Lifestyle. They instantly add atmosphere but to keep greener make sure they are 100 per cent beeswax instead of paraffin, which can contribute to air pollution…